It might be of interest to US gardeners to know that Imidacloprid (as well as Thiomethoxam) has just been withdrawn from use in the European Union for 2 years while more research is carried out into the effects of neonicotinoids on bee populations. This in response to a report by the European Food Safety Authority which identified potential risks to bee health from the chemicals. Lindens are bee magnets when in bloom. Lindens get very large and attempting to keep them aphid free is going to be an enormous and never ending job. They just get aphids - that is their nature. If that is a real problem to you I would be inclined to choose a different tree. Have you tried just pointing the hose at the tree and spraying it forcefully every so often? Also I don't think there is any point in fertilising an established 24 year old tree. Here is a link that might be useful: Imidacloprid

For me, changing it up every year is what is the most fun. I love trying different vibrant color combos, and try to use plants that attract hummingbirds to the planters on the patio. I like browsing www.provenwinners.com in their container combos section, you can search for combos for all seasons and color palettes. I also like to take inspiration from the White Flower Farm catalog's annuals combination photos - drool worthy! One last fun place to check out online is http://www.kinsmangarden.com/category/URL_970 They have very inspiring ideas there and such lush plantings. I just bought my annuals last weekend, and when they recover from transplanting and start blooming, I will post pics to show the combos. This year I have the following planters: 1) In a blue ceramic planter: Persian shield, lavender geranium, white bacopa, 2 purple nemesias, 1 lavender trailing verbena. 2) In a butter yellow ceramic planter: Elfin Pink penstemon, yellow/pink lantana, yellow African daisy, sweet potato vine in bright green, 1 yellow million bells petunia and 1 medium pink spreading mini petunia. 3)Semi-shade black urn: Coleus (orange-reddish freckles on bright green background), green sweet potato vine, and a orangey-pink begonia. 4)Hayrack basket on gate: hot pink million bells petunia flanked by 2 deep purple trailing petunias, and blue horizon ageratum along back of basket. 5) Smaller terracotta planter: Taller dark purple petunias, bright blue nemesia with white eye, and white salvia. 6) Hanging baskets: 1 Fuchsia for the hummingbirds and 1 mixed hanging basket with yellow and purple mini petunias, white bacopa, and lavender trailing verbena. 7) Front door planters: Bought 2 lush hanging baskets of bright deep magenta wave petunias and cut the "hanging" part off, then plopped the "basket" part into the planters. Less expensive than buying individual plants and gives instant impact! Amy

Europeans just love to do that to trees. I saw that everywhere in Europe when I visited. I always like to think of where a practice like that comes into being. Like bricked up windows (the blind arcade) came into being because Louis the something decided to tax the rich on how many windows they had in the front of their house on the ground floor. So the rich just bricked them up and started a new architectural Fad that has lasted through the centuries. I think the streets being so narrow lead people to cut their trees into lollipops on a yearly bases but then they carried it on to the roadsides outside the villages because they thought the lollipop look was cool in the raking northern light. Being stuck in the brutal southern light , I like as much parted shade as possible. Maybe they wanted to limit the amount of dense shade in their yards......OHHHH , I am trailing off topic. Spank me!

Then that would be ME!! And that's just not happening!! Ive inherited hosting TG & theres way too much stuff to do last minute. Multi-tasking at its finest. I had the dressing in the oven finishing up- added the rolls on the bottom level- took them both out at the same time-- burnt bottom rolls!! Ugh. Re-do on the rolls. Its that time of life where things my mother did have been passed onto me. I'm learning.........but there is Alot to this domestication stuff. Grannies &mamas made it look so easy & relaxed. Goals:)